View full sizeThe Michigan Warriors selected Davison forward Travis Carto in the 10th round of the NAHL draftFLINT, Michigan — The Michigan Warriors went local with one of their picks in Wednesday's North American Hockey League draft.

The Warriors had nine picks in the 16-round draft and they used their 10th round selection to take forward Travis Carto of Davison 169th overall.

The 5-foot-9, 160-pound Carto was All-State for Davison last season, when he had 28 goals and 38 assists in 26 games. In his career, Carto had 70 goals and 97 assists in 103 games.

“He's speedy, fast, skilled,” said Tom Boileau, the Warriors' scouting director. “He's not going to run through brick walls but he's a finisher, a skater. He's a speed guy.

“He played for Team Michigan, which was the top high school seniors who went to a big tournament in Minnesota. He's well renowned and we're excited about getting him in here.”

Travis Carto
Carto was hoping to continue his hockey career in the junior ranks and he knew the Warriors had some interest in his services.

“I'm pretty excited,” Carto said. “I don't know much about the team. I know it's a new team and they have a good coach staff. It would be nice to live at home if I could. That would be great.”

The Warriors used their first-round pick to take Alec Sulesky, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound defenseman from Rochester High. Sulesky was the 21st player taken overall.

“He's a big, strong, hard hitter, a little bit nasty,” Boileau said. “He's highly skilled but he has a little nasty edge to him. He's a big hitter in the neutral zone, a Scott Stevens-type guy. If you're coming through the neutral zone with your head down, you better watch out.

“He keeps everybody honest. He's a real presence.”

With their second pick, the Warriors took forward Ian Miller 90th overall in the fourth round. Miller (6-0, 180) played for Compuware's under-18 team last season.

“He plays a little bit like a power forward yet he has some skill,” Boileau said. “He can handle the puck, he can pass the puck, he can get to open spots, he can shoot the puck. He's good sized. He's played Triple-A his whole life.

“He's battle tested.”

The Warriors other picks were defenseman Nolan Valleau of Novi High 108th overall in the fifth round, forward A.J. White of Compuware (123-6), forward Joe Ferriss of Novi High (136-7), defenseman Ryan Trenz of the St. Louis Jr. Blues (148-8), forward Pat Gregory of the Jr. Blues (159-9) and forward Robert Mantha (178-11th round).

Ferriss (6-0, 170) is another player the Warriors have high hopes for.

“He played up until this year in the Compuware system,” Boileau said. “He's a former national champion. He's skilled and smart and can just flat out play the game.”

Moe Mantha, the Warriors coach and general manager, liked how the draft went.

The Warriors will hit the ice for the first time in July. All nine draft picks as well as 39 other players are expected to be on hand. After that, the roster will be trimmed to 30 before its narrowed down to 23 by Sept. 1 in anticipation of the season opener.

The Warriors only had nine picks in the draft because NAHL teams are allowed to carry 30 players on their roster and they already had 21.

They retained the rights to 14 who spent last season with the Marquette Rangers, who were purchased by the Warriors ownership group, and another seven were offered tenders and chose to sign.

Two other players with Flint-area ties were part of the NAHL draft. Cody Damon of Grand Blanc and Aaron Teal were both selected by the Chicago Hitmen after spending last season with the Michigan Mountain Cats, who play out of Ice Mountain in Burton.

Teal, a former Grand Blanc High forward, was taken 152nd overall in the ninth round while Teal, a defenseman, went 96th overall in the third round.